• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.3
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• pp.419-430
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• 2021

This study investigated spatiotemporal trends of sediment-related disasters in North Korea from 1960 to 2019 and post-disaster recovery cases based on a literature review and satellite images. Results showed that occurrence status of sediment-related disasters was initially externally reported in 1995 (during the Kim Jongil era); their main triggering factor was heavy summer rainfall. Furthermore, forest degradation rate was positively correlated with population density (R² = 0.4347, p = 0.02) and occurrence number of sediment-related disasters was relatively high on the west coast region, where both variables showed high values. This indicates that human activity was a major cause of forest degradation and thus, significantly affected sediment-related disasters in mountain regions. Finally, sediment- related disasters due to shallow landslides, debris flow, and slow-moving landslides were observed in undisturbed forest regions and human-impacted forest regions, including terraced fields, opencast mines, forest roads, and post-wildfire areas, via satellite image analysis. These disaster-hit areas remained mostly abandoned without any recovery works, whereas hillside erosion control work (e.g., treeplanting with terracing) or torrent erosion control work (e.g., check dam, debris flow guide bank) were implemented in certain areas. These findings can provide reference information to expand inter-Korean exchange and cooperation in forest rehabilitation and erosion control works of North Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.412-423
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated the distribution and habitat of Tscherskia triton from 2014 to 2016 in Jeju Island. Nine individuals of T. triton were observed and captured from four habitat sites. Most of the habitats were of the natural and rural type, and urban type coexisted in some of the areas. The natural type of habitat comprised of forests, shrubs, and grasslands. The habitat of T. triton ranged vertically from 102 m in lowland to 742 m in a mountainous area and was not observed in altitude over 1,000 m. Small brooks, dry streams or wetlands were found to be located nearby the habitat of T. triton. The T. triton was distributed mainly in areas with natural vegetation and artificial plantation in company with the upper story vegetation on the ground of intact or incomplete layer structure, or the area with the relatively large distribution of shrubs and long grassland. The presence of roads and forest paths in these habitats suggested that the T. triton can thrive in areas with human disturbance. The designation of Halla Mountain National Park in Jeju Island as a conservation area prevents damage or loss of the habitat due to any artificial development. However, frequent human disturbances occurring in grassland is tolerated by small mammals. Therefore, in order to help T. triton maintain a stable population density, it is essential that various types of the habitat should be conserved in the middle mountain areas and the grasslands in lowlands should be well protected.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.82-87
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• 2019

Global warming has a significant impact on diverse ecosystems including agroecosystem through; changing of phenology, physiology and distribution. Monitoring of biological responses emanating from global warming is required to understand the challenges of biological diversity conservation posed by climate change. The Korean government selected four butterfly species as indicators of climate change in agroecosystem: Papilio xuthus, Pieris rapae, Colias erate, and Eurema mandarina. The aim of this study was to investigate the different monitoring methods of the butterflies in Korea and suggest a suitable monitoring method to track the population trends of butterflies in the agroecosystem. Butterfly monitoring was conducted in eight sites throughout Korea from April to October, 2018 using three survey methods: point census at rice paddy area, point census at the border between rice paddy and hill and line transect along the rice paddy and hill. Each method took approximately 30 min. to count the butterflies. A total of 4,691 butterflies and 92 species were counted: The most dominant species was Pieris rapae with a total count of 1,205 individuals followed by Polygonia c-aureum, Zizeeria maha, Colias erate, Cupido argiades and Papilio xuthus. Among the three census methods, the total number of species and individuals when using line transect method was statistically higher than in the other methods. However, the numbers of the four butterflies indicators showed no difference throughout three census methods. Based on the number of species and the total individuals butterflies in agroecosystem, we advocate for the application of line transect method as it can find more butterflies in agroecosystem. In addition, we advised for the implementation of education programs on the line transect method in butterfly identification to participants of the national monitoring program.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.402-407
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• 2019

In this study, we investigated the habitat characteristics of a reservoir in Gyeongju City, Gyeongbuk, in which a large group of Mauremys reevesii (endangered species Class II and natural monument No. 453 in Korea) was discovered. We examined the biotic and abiotic factors that directly and indirectly threaten the survival of M. reevesii within the habitat. The reservoir where M. reevesii was discovered was built for agriculture and surrounded by submerged trees, dam, forests, reeds, and farmland (paddy field). All of the M. reevesii were found only in the submerged trees on the north side of the reservoir. We found 28 M. reevesii (8 juveniles) and 21 M. reevesii (16 juveniles) from field surveys on May 10th and August 9th, 2018, respectively. A number of red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) and American bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana), which threaten the survival of M. reevesii, were also found in and around the reservoir. Moreover, there were signs of excavation of cultural asset, chemical fertilizer, and household garbage, all of which are considered to be major threats to the survival of M. reevesii, all over the reservoir. Newborn turtles in this year were not observed. However, we estimated that natural breeding had sufficiently occurred since we observed many young turtles in the reservoir. Furthermore, the presence of young T. s. elegans individuals can be a persistent problem for M. reevesii as they are competing species. In conclusion, in-situ conservation method should be considered for protecting the endangered turtle and their habitat.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1063-1069
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• 2020

Two crucian carp species (Carassius auratus and C. cuvieri) inhabit Lake Yedang in South Korea, and C. auratus is known to be native to Korea. Classification of these two freshwater fish species is often confused because of their morphological similarity. To distinguish the two species, we conducted phylogenetic and population genetic analyses of C. auratus and C. cuvieri based on their mitochondrial DNA sequences of the cytochrome b gene (CYTB). We also compared our partial CYTB sequence (<1,056 bp) with 10 Chinese, nine Japanese, and two Russian crucian carp fishes. The results of our phylogenetic analysis showed that C. auratus and C. cuvieri were clearly divided into two phylogroups. The nucleotide diversity (π) of C. auratus from Korea, China, and Japan showed a range of 0.146%~0.421%, while the range of π of C. cuvieri from Korea and Japan was lower than those of C. auratus (0.0%~0.054%). Moreover, the comparison of CYTB divergence among crucian carp fishes in China, Japan, and Korea indicated that Korean Carassius fishes were distantly related to those from China and Japan, with two exceptions: the pairwise Fst value between Korean C. auratus and northern Chinese C. auratus was not significantly different. In addition, no significant genetic divergence between Korean and Japanese C. cuvieri was detected. We conclude that, despite the morphological similarities, C. auratus and C. cuvieri should be considered as separate freshwater fish resources in conservation efforts for genetic diversity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.100 no.4
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• pp.558-564
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• 2011

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of early revegetation by analyzing the characteristics of germination and growth of Lespedeza cyrtobotrya using boring technique in rock slopes. After making up a growing basis of approximately 20 cm depth and 10 cm diameter by using a boring machine, the surface of rock slopes was planted with vegetation-plant. The number of germinating populations by soil media was 23 in H.s, 22 in T.s, 12 in M.s, and 1 in M.g.s. The germination rate (%) by soil media was 19.2% in H.s, 18.3% in T.s, 10.0% in M.s and 0.8% in M.g.s. In monthly changes of growth rate, the aspect was northwest direction, the soil media was M.s, and the treatment was microorganism plot. The main factors affecting survivorship and growth of population were soil media and treatment plot. The interaction between each factor had a good effects in bearing ${\times}$ soil media, bearing ${\times}$ treatment plot, soil media ${\times}$ treatment plot. but, it is recommended that the mulching of vegetation plant is highly needed to help the germination of seed and growth of vegetation because of loss of seed and soil media occurred due to rainfall. Therefore, The result suggests that the revegetation technique using boring in rock slope was very efficient in respect of the early revegetation and the landscape.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.122-132
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• 2021

We reviewed the methods employed in Korean tidal flat surveys to measure the local abundance of the endangered wildlife and marine protected species, the fiddler crab, Austruca lactea. A complete census for infinite population is impossible even in a limited habitat within a tidal flat, and density estimates from samples strongly vary due to diverse biological and ecological factors. The habitat boundaries and areas shift with periodicities or rhythmic activities of organisms as well as measurement errors. Hence the local abundance calculated from density and habitat areas should be regarded as transient. This conjecture was valid based on the spatio-temporal variations of the density averages, standard error ranges, and spatial distribution of the crab, A. lactea observed for 3 years (2015-2017) in Songdo tidal flat in Incheon. We proposed the potential habitat areas using the occurrence probability of 50% from logistic regression model, reflecting the importance of habitat conservation value as an alternative to local abundance. The spatial shape of potential habitat predicted from a generalized model would remain constant over time unless the species' critical environmental conditions change rapidly. The species-specific model is expected to be used for the introduction of desired species in future habitat restoration/creation projects.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.325-331
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• 2020

Macromia daimoji nymphs (Endangered Species II) are known to inhabit the Naeseong Stream in Korea. In March 2019, we performed a correlation analysis between sediment particle size and the M. daimoji population using data collected from a 0.2-㎡ area at 37 sites in Naeseong riverbed. Particle size analysis showed different ratios of sediments in the riverbed: Coarse Sand (500-1,000 ㎛) 52.5%; Very Coarse Sand (1,000-2,000 ㎛) 25.6%; Medium Sand (250-500 ㎛) 17.2%; Fine Sand (125-250 ㎛) 3.1%; Very Fine Sand (63-125 ㎛) 1.0%; and Silt (less than 63 ㎛) 0.7%. The number of M. daimoji nymphs showed a positive correlation with Very Fine Sand and Fine Sand and a negative correlation with Coarse Sand, indicating that M. daimoji nymphs inhabit fine sand. These results can be used to monitor changes in the riverbed environment of Naeseong Stream to ensure the conservation of M. daimoji habitat.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.644-658
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• 2021

Understanding the functional traits of dominant species in urban ecosystems provides insight into species' trait adaptation and ecosystem function in response to fragmented and isolated urban vegetation and reduced biological interactions. This study compared means and variances of environmental factors (geographic, meteorological, and soil attributes) and 4 leaf traits (leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf dry mass content, and leaf shape index) and 7 reproductive traits (fruit width, fruit length, fruit shape, fruit dry weight, fruit dry matter content, seed weight, and seed ratio) measured of 40 Sorbus alnifolia individuals in four mountainous areas south of Seoul downtown, South Korea. We then performed the multivariate analysis of trait combinations. While the measured environmental factors indicated the individuality of the survey sites, the urban vegetation was drier and had a longer growth period. The leaves of S. alnifolia in the urban areas were smaller and heavier, and the fruits produced longer and lighter seeds, showing the traits affected by long urbanization. The study confirmed changes in the growth and reproduction mechanism of the S. alnifolia population under the urban environment, indicating reduced biological interaction due to vegetation fragmentation and isolation. This study provides limited but distinct ecological information about the function and persistence of key species in cities with a reduced scale of biological interactions and many negative environmental factors such as air pollution.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.34-43
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• 2022

A distribution survey was conducted from March to August 2021 to evaluate the distribution status, habitat characteristics, and threat of extinction of the Korean cold-water fish Ladislabia taczanowskii Dybowski (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae). Historical distribution reports were divided into 1997~2005, 2006~2012, 2013~2019, and distribution surveyed 169 sampling sites, and 1,040 individuals were collected from 72 sites. Areas where the habitat was confirmed were Namhan River (27 stations), Han River (17 stations), Bukhan River (16 stations), Samcheok Osipcheon (4 stations), Yeongokcheon (3 stations), Gangneung Namdaecheon (2 stations), Jeoncheon (1 station), Chucheon (2 stations). The main habitat of L. taczanowskii was upstream of the river with a high altitude of more than 300 m, 2~30 m water flow width, 0.3~1.5 m water depth, and high ratio (50~90%) boulder bottoms. The main reasons for the decline in population size were assumed as river works, construction of reservoirs and bridges, discharge of contaminated water into the river, the inflow of summer vacationers, and weir. Compared to our results there exists evidence that states a 36.1% reduction in occupancy within 10 years, in a small appearance range (7,820 km²) and occupancy area (288 km²), number of disconnected locations (19 locations), and a decline in habitat quality. Therefore, L. taczanowskii is now considered as Vulnerable (VU) based on the results (VU A2ac, Near meets B1b (i, ii, iii)+B2b (i, ii, iii)) of IUCN Red List categories and criteria. Lastly, the conservation plan of Ladislabia taczanowskii was discussed.